Not many know about their longtime partnership.
If there’s one constant for Jojo Lastimosa throughout his basketball journey, it’s Chot Reyes.
The two TNT Tropang Giga mentors go way back. From their playing days with the Ateneo Blue Eagles to ensuring the Tropang Giga remain a contender each conference, they've simply been inseparable.
“For some reason, we cannot be separated from each other,” said Lastimosa, the TNT team manager who was tasked to call the shots when Reyes focused on Gilas Pilipinas' FIBA World Cup stint.
After college, their relationship spilled over to the PBA, where Lastimosa blossomed as one of the best players to ever do it, while Reyes ended up becoming a master tactician.
“When he was in Purefoods, he was the reason why I got drafted by Purefoods,” the 59-year-old Lastimosa said. “He left to go to Alaska with Tim (Cone). He got me over there. Nung nawala na siya at pumunta sa Pop Cola, I was a free agent in ’99 and Chot was in Pop Cola, and he got me to play over there (in 2000).”
That’s why when he was hailed the Executive of the Year by the PBA Press Corps last Monday, Lastimosa made sure to give credit to his longtime friend.
“I have to say Chot and I go a long way and we always got each other’s back. Even right now, I still feel he should be given more props for steering Gilas,” he said during the event where Cone was also feted as the Coach of the Year.
“For some reason, he’s not getting that. But again, I’m just glad I’m there for him to support him,” he added.
As an interim coach, Lastimosa helped TNT capture the PBA Governors’ Cup title at the expense of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel while Reyes ran the national team.
But the longtime duo is not yet done, as they look to win more chips for the Tropang Giga, who are without star guard Mikey Williams in the current PBA Commissioner's Cup.
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“The challenge here is for me to help keep the franchise relevant and competitive in the coming years,” Lastimosa said.
(PM)